Understanding Childhood Maltreatment: Literature Review and Practical Applications for Educators

The purpose of this thesis is to conduct a critical and descriptive review of the research related to children who experience trauma due to maltreatment—whether because of physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological abuse and neglect—their effects on children, and the potential impact in school and how educational personnel can support the needs of these students. An overview of child maltreatment and review of the literature related to children who have experienced maltreatment was provided including: (a) type of maltreatment, (b) prevalence of maltreatment, (c) effects of maltreatment, (d) treatment approaches, and (f) relevance for educators. The methods and results for obtaining and analyzing articles were outlined for this research study and existing appropriate and applicable strategies were modified and organized for educational personnel to use in a variety of school settings. Advisor: John W. Maa